Annual Report 2016/17

Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations

GWSF

“Our purpose is to promote, represent and campaign on behalf of local community controlled housing associations and co-operatives in Glasgow

and the west of Scotland, and to share information and best practice.”

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Contents

Chair’s welcome

GWSF Events

Our Policy Work3 4

6-7

Our work in Glasgow

Campaigning and promoting

Finance109 11A report prepared by

Scottish Social Housing Charter

Performance 2015/16

November 2016 SUCCESSION PLANNINGAttracting new board members and developing senior staff

Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations

GWSF

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Chair’s Foreword

I recall that in my introduction to last year’s annual report I talked about it being a time of political turmoil. Maybe the events of the last 12 months suggest that this is now the new normal!

What we do know is that regardless of political events, GWSF members will continue to get on with the job of being great landlords and supporting local people in a way that only associations rooted in their community can.

We’ve come to learn that political rhetoric which is generally very supportive of community controlled housing associations (CCHAs) isn’t always matched by what happens in practice, but nonetheless it has been a largely positive year for our members in various ways:

More CCHAs are now involved in new build provision than in previous years, even if we know some of our members are still being frustrated in their efforts to make their contribution.

It’s still early days for the new land reform and community empowerment provisions such as those relating to asset transfer, but there have been initial signs that associations are working with local partners to put things into practice.

Our third annual Charter report in autumn 2016 again highlighted how efficient and responsive CCHAs are as landlords, outperforming other housing associations and councils.

The Forum doesn’t push difficult issues under the carpet. Most of the recent cases of associations dealing with serious governance and financial management issues have involved smaller CCHAs, and this has to be a concern for GWSF, its members and the CCHA brand.

Our very well attended evening session ‘From crisis to new dawn’, which heard different perspectives on how and why associations had got into trouble, was a clear example of how the Forum can help bring things out into the open to be properly discussed, and not shoved into the long grass.

How well our members are planning for the future is a key element of the sector’s approach to avoiding governance problems in the first place. Our well received report on succession planning was also aimed at emphasising that without good committees/boards, the ability of any association to continue being the force for regeneration in the local area is going to be severely hampered.

We continue to be a key player on the national housing scene. Our manifesto for the May 2016 Scottish elections made specific asks of the new administration and also

promoted the many different ways in which CCHAs support their communities. And we meet the Housing Minister at least twice a year to press our case on the key issues.

We’ve been closely involved in dealing with issues around the reclassification of housing associations as public bodies. And we’ve faced up to the increasing likelihood that Freedom of Information will come our way, bringing with it real resource challenges, especially for our smallest member associations. We’ve aimed both to make representations on FOI and at the same time prepare members for it should it arrive.

Our summer 2016 Regeneration Conference at Cadder HA’s new community centre was a resounding success, and so too our Annual Conference, once the Housing Minister extricated himself from the traffic!

We’ve reduced the frequency of our evening meetings but seen really good attendances for the sessions we’ve held, and we’re especially grateful to all of you who make time to support these.

Our Campaign Group has been raising its profile at various events and, amongst other things, has the April 2019 LHA cap in its sights as we look to work with others to assess the likely impact.

My warm thanks to my colleagues on the GWSF Board and our lead members who bring so much time and expertise to the Forum, and finally to our staff team Eleanor, Colleen and David (and Paul in Glasgow’s Housing Access Team) for all their efforts in support of members.

Welcome to GWSF’s Annual Report for 2016/17

Peter (L) at GWSF’s 2016 annual conference with GWSF Director David Bookbinder

Peter Howden, GWSF Chair

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Our Policy Work

Our Policy WorkOur policy work throughout the year has covered a range of issues that impact on the CCHA movement. Some of the key policy areas are summarised here and on page 8:

During 2016/17 we continued to monitor members’ experiences of their role in the 50,000 social/affordable homes programme. Our impression has been of mixed experiences so far, with a healthy programme for some associations, others happy to be returning to development – even if it might only be a single project, but ongoing challenges for members in some areas.

The nature of the problems faced vary, with some associations feeling squeezed out of their local authority’s plans by larger, regional and national associations, and others having issues with particular sites – again where the challenge is what appears to be an approach favouring larger associations.

We have sought to take every opportunity to talk up the importance of community based associations having a prominent role in the new build programme, including in our two meetings with the Housing Minister (in July 2016 and February 2017), in our Manifesto for the 2016 Scottish Election, and in our appearance before Holyrood’s Local Government and Communities Committee in November 2016.

In terms of capacity to deliver, whilst we cannot be complacent, members themselves have not so far suggested that they have capacity issues within their association. But some have been highlighting capacity issues over whether their local authority has sufficient resources to manage an expanding programme, and we expect this to be an ongoing issue throughout 2017/18 and beyond.

Where specific barriers to development arise, we will look at any action we can take to address things. For example, we engaged with Scottish Water representatives over how they respond to associations where there are water supply, sewerage or drainage issues on particular sites.

We have also sought to raise the profile of support for open market purchases and funding of tenemental acquisition and improvement within the overall new supply programme.

Investment

Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government and Housing addresses delegates at GWSF’s 2016 Annual Conference.

Our Policy Work

Over the year we have sought to liaise closely with a number of member associations who have encountered difficulties in terms of governance or other issues which have led, or could lead, to regulatory intervention. Wherever possible, we have tried to give appropriate advice and support where this is asked for, to both committee/board members and staff, depending on the particular circumstances.

It’s unfortunate but a reality that most of the associations which have faced serious governance challenges over the year have been community based. We have not wanted to brush this under the carpet, though we still believe of course that the vast majority of CCHAs are very well governed and provide great services to their tenants.

Our Open Meeting session in March 2017 – ‘From crisis to new dawn’ was a successful attempt to home in on some of the issues which have been common in cases where associations have faced major problems. As we head into 2017/18 we continue to look at ways of helping support good governance: and, to be clear, we do see this issue as largely one of governance

standards, not something that can be put down to over-zealous regulation.

In terms of regulation, we have continued to maintain appropriately close links with the Scottish Housing Regulator at both staff and board level. This contact allows us both to raise any concerns about how the regulatory framework is operating in practice and gain insight into SHR’s own perspective on the issues they encounter in housing associations.

Following the October 2016 reclassification of Scottish housing associations as public bodies for statistical purposes, we liaised closely with the Scottish Government, SHR and others over the regulatory changes needed to effect what is hoped will be an eventual reversal of that reclassification. In particular we emphasised the critical importance of retaining the tenant ballot provisions for group structure changes – something on which we have been successful.

We responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on reviewing the Scottish Social Housing Charter, and were pleased that our call for minimal change was heeded.

Openness, transparency and Freedom of InformationIn autumn 2016 we published – jointly with SFHA – guidance for members on maximising openness and transparency through the publication of information (mainly) on websites. GWSF and SFHA were both keen to move away from the focus on Freedom of Information, in that we believed that with or without FOI, it is important for associations to be able to demonstrate the easy availability of good quality information.

Also jointly with SFHA, ahead of the Scottish Government’s consultation, we commissioned research into local council housing departments’ experiences of dealing with FOI. The researchers subsequently surveyed members on their views, and our consultation response reflected the mix of views within the membership, albeit with a slight majority opposed to FOI extension.

Governance and regulation

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GWSF Events GWSF EVENTS – THE YEAR IN PICTURES

We held our Annual Summer Regeneration conference in June 2016 at Cadder’s brand new community centre. Over 80 delegates attended and they loved the venue and the lunch! Key speakers included Lesley Fraser, Director for Housing, Regeneration and Welfare at the Scottish Government, Andy Milne, Chief Executive, SURF - Scotland’s Regeneration Network, and Dr Oliver Escobar, Lecturer in Public Policy, University of Edinburgh & Co-Director of ‘What Works Scotland’. A range of café sessions showcased some of the great CCHA projects funded under the People & Communities Fund.

Around 200 delegates attended our Annual Conference in November 2016 at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow. We were delighted to welcome Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government and Housing

as our keynote speaker, and delegates heard from a range of other strong plenary speakers too. Workshop sessions focused on key issues for CCHAs including: the consequences of bad private sector housing and the impacts of Universal Credit.

Digital inclusion was the focus of a popular half-day session we held in October 2016 to enable members to hear about the latest initiatives in helping to get tenants online.

Our evening Open Meetings now take place around five times a year and were very well attended in 2016-17, with successful sessions on governance and regulation, Freedom of Information, digital inclusion, reclassification of HAs, and procurement.

GWSF events

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GWSF EventsGWSF EVENTS – THE YEAR IN PICTURES

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Our Policy Work

During the year we submitted responses to a number of Scottish Government consultations on different aspects of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, with our main interest lying in the provisions for asset transfer to communities. We now look forward to seeing the changes taken up, though we believe that asset transfer can also take place by mutual agreement without the need for the new powers.

We produced a briefing on the People and Communities Fund and how things have changed since

the original Wider Role Fund, which was exclusively for associations. This highlighted the declining share of grants going to associations through such funds.

Whilst our former Regeneration Partnership Project has now come to an end, its legacy is the ongoing Community Regeneration Learning Network, which has effectively taken over the defunct Wider Role Forum. The CRLN holds regular sessions on specific aspects of

the work members and their third sector partners do to tackle inequality and poverty in their communities.

The first significant evidence from members about the early impact of Universal Credit started coming in during the year, and in March 2017 we made a submission to the UK Parliament’s Work and Pensions Committee on the alarmingly high arrears levels among UC claimants.

We also learned about changes to the planned implementation of the LHA cap, now due in April 2019 but applying to all households on Universal Credit. We liaised with the Scottish Government and other bodies over the need for research into the potential

impact, particularly on people under 35.

We responded to two Scottish Government consultations – on new social security powers for Scotland, and on administrative flexibilities over the housing element of Universal Credit.

Our members understand the importance rent levels have in helping people on low incomes, and once again our annual survey of prospective rent increases helped members benchmark as part of their rent review process.

Community regeneration and empowerment

Welfare reform

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PublicationsOur Charter Report in November 2016 underlined the message from previous years that CCHAs are both highly efficient and responsive landlords whose performance is excellent in comparison with the housing association sector as a whole.

The research we carried out with members and other housing sector colleagues in 2016/17 led to the publication of our Succession Planning Report which focused on challenges around attracting new board members and developing senior staff. We discovered some great examples of innovative approaches members are taking and highlighted some of the key issues over the next few months. We will be working with SHARE and EVH to take forward some of the suggestions in the report.

GWSF Campaign GroupOver the year our campaign group continued to contribute to Forum events and also provided regular updates to the GWSF Board and to attendees at our monthly open meetings.

The group were at the forefront of our press coverage on the potential impacts of the Local Housing Allowance and on Job Centre closures in Glasgow.

Our campaigning and promoting work

Campaigning and promoting the CCHA MovementAs always, the Forum’s key aim throughout the year has been to promote and represent Community Controlled Housing Associations. We did this by building on the ongoing dialogue we have with politicians at both local and national level. We also strengthened our relationships with a range of public and third sector partners.

A report prepared by

Scottish Social Housing Charter

Performance 2015/16

November 2016

SUCCESSION PLANNINGAttracting new board members and developing senior staff

Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations

GWSF

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Our Work in Glasgow

The homelessness referral system

Community Planning PartnershipWe are represented at all levels within Glasgow’s CPP structures. In addition, alongside other CPP partners, over the last year we have also taken part in a series of discussion workshops on the focus of the Local Outcomes Improvement Plans.

Sheltered housing fundingIn late 2016, when around 18 of our member associations were advised that sheltered housing funding would be reduced and then withdrawn altogether in 2017/18, we liaised closely with the Health and Social Care Partnership to clarify the position and look at the scope for some associations to take advantage of funding available for new ‘supported living’ services.

We brought affected members together on a number of occasions, including a session in which members were able to learn from the experiences of Thenue HA in re-aligning their service from sheltered to ‘retirement’ housing.

We worked closely with colleagues in the Council’s Housing Access Team as they began regular meeting with the new Local Lettings Communities (area groupings of associations). And the data being collected by the Team gave an increasingly clear picture of where the main issues with the referral system lay – which was largely not with associations themselves.

As members of the Housing Access Board we sought to work in partnership to try to bring about improvements, particularly in how casework teams operate the system. But it was a difficult end to 2016/17 when, in March 2016, a highly misleading paper was presented by homelessness managers in the Health and Social Care Partnership to the Integration Joint Board.

We continued to work effectively with colleagues in Glasgow City Council, in particular with Development and Regeneration Services and with the Housing Access Team. We are also members of the Housing, Health and Social Care Group and through this continue to feed the CCHA perspective into the health and social care integration agenda being taken forward by Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership.

We twice met with the Council’s Chief Executive to explore the scope for housing associations to play a role in delivering services traditionally seen as the local authority’s responsibility. Among the other issues we worked with GCC on were the new build investment programme, associations’ role in acquiring and managing private housing, letting agency and other HA initiatives relating to the private rented sector, asylum and refugee housing issues, and welfare reform.

Partnership working

GWSF Finances

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GWSF Finances

GWSF Vice Chair Helen Moore (L) pictured at our 2016 annual conference with speakers Andy Wightman MSP from the Scottish Green Party & Lesley Riddoch, Journalist, Commentator and Broadcaster

The financial statements for the period ending 31 March 2017 have been provided to all GWSF members. The statements have been certified by Alexander Sloan, Chartered Accountants.

The Forum turned over £247,411 in the year to March 2017, resulting in a small deficit of £2,068. The deficit is actually smaller than had been planned, and we would have managed to make a small surplus if not for a slight reduction in income from our Annual Conference.

We continue to have a healthy balance sheet which gives the Forum overall net assets of £142,043, and we would expect to retain our reserves around this level at the end of 2017-18.

The 2016-17 accounts include income and expenditure for our post in Glasgow City Council’s Housing Access Team. In 2016-17 the income for this post came from voluntary contributions from 15 of our member associations, whilst in 2017-18 we are pleased to have secured funding from the Scottish Government to continue the post.

GWSF, Unit 3D, Firhill House,

55-65 Firhill Road, Glasgow

Telephone: 0141 946 0645

Website: www.gwsf.org.uk

Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations

GWSF